From a press release issued by CMRA:

CMRA announces new classes for 2003

The CMRA is announcing four new classes for 2003, in an attempt to bring more variety to the its race days. In addition, another class has been divided in order to provide for more competition.

Club President Brooks Gremmels explains, “The CMRA already provides racers with great variety, but we can do better. From our big-bike endurance series, with an average of about 50 bikes on the grid and the Mini Endurance series for YSR and 80cc class machines, to our successful sprint series, the Club manages to pack a lot of variety into its race weekends. But our Board of Directors looked at our schedule and found a way to add more of the ‘fun factor.’

“The new Motard class was created in response to the growing interest in putting modified dirtbikes onto a road racing track. In 2003, the Motard series will feature all-asphalt race courses. If the participation is as high as expected, a conventional motard series combining asphalt and dirt for the track layout will follow.

“Vintage racing is something the club had lost focus on as the grids dwindled a few years ago. In the past year our members have asked for an opportunity to clean the cobwebs off of their vintage machinery and go racing. We want to welcome those riders back with a new Vintage class. There is a special camaraderie among those riders and we feel that is what club racing is all about. We were able to fit it all into our schedule and are looking forward to a fun filled and exciting 2003 race season.

“Having raced a YZ426F last season with light competition in the SuperSingles and Lightweight Sportsman classes, I have taken an active role in trying to attract other motard participants to the grid by giving them their own class. Allowing for dirt bikes or dual-purpose based machinery to participate in road racing events, the Motard class will be a new and exciting addition to the schedule. A simple rules structure provides freedom in design and a low cost entry into the sport. Both Motard and Super Motard classes are offered, with eligibility defined by engine displacement.

“In the Vintage class, the rules dictate the machinery must be 1983 or older model year. Virtually all machinery built within this timeframe is eligible. This includes GP based motorcycles. Already planning to participate in 2003 are racers aboard Triumph, Yamaha RD, and Kawasaki KZ based machines among others. Both Vintage and Super Vintage classes are offered.”

In order to promote the classes, the CMRA is offering a $20 discount per weekend for riders entering any of the Motard or Vintage classes. Sponsorship is also a possibility, but the details have not been finalized as of press time.

Alongside the new classes the CMRA has split the Classic class. Now both Mediumweight and Heavyweight classes are in the line-up which will ensure the smaller displacement motorcycles will continue to be competitive. Classic rules specify 1993 model year or older machines. GP125 motorcycles are allowed, but they must run in the Heavyweight Classic class.

Complete rules–and more information regarding the CMRA–are available at www.cmraracing.com or by calling (817) 377-1599.

From a press release issued for Team Hammer, Inc. by freelance publicist Dorina Clarke:

Texan Is First To Sign Up For Team Hammer
Talent Search Presented By Alpinestars


John Ross of San Antonio, Texas is the first racer to sign up for the Team Hammer Talent Search Presented By Alpinestars.

Ross started racing in 1987 and co-rode to the 2002 CMRA Overall Endurance Championship, with a finances-dictated break from racing in 1991-1997.

“I’ve been watching Team Hammer win races for years,” said Ross when asked what motivated him to sign up for the Talent Search program. “I’m convinced there is much to be learned from these guys. I’ve always been a sponge when it comes to motorcycle technology. There’s plenty of other advantages to being in the Talent Search as well. It’s well worth the cost to me.

“Next year I’ll be riding a GSX-R1000 in the CMRA (CCS) Series as well as a few Nationals. The bike is a two-time Suzuki Cup Finals winner, and I’m very excited about throwing my leg over it.”

Two finalists in the Team Hammer Talent Search Presented By Alpinestars will receive full rides in the 2003 Suzuki Cup Finals, including the use of a Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki racebike, free tires, a mechanic and entry fees. The best-finishing finalist will take home a race-prepped GSX-R750.

Information on the Team Hammer Talent Search Presented by Alpinestars is available in the News section at www.teamhammer.com.

Copyright 2002-2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Backdraft Motorsports is taking a different approach to finding sponsorship-–by auctioning off the opportunity to sponsor its team during the 2003 racing season on eBay.com.

“We’ve had a difficult time finding solid sponsors in the past, and we’re looking for other ways to get our name out there to potential sponsors,” Backdraft Motorsports team owner/rider Canaan Manley is quoted as saying in a press release. “I came across another listing on Ebay for a different sport, so I figured it would be worth a shot.”

Based in Woodbury, Tennessee, Manley is planning to race a Suzuki TL1000R in the WERA Southeast Regional sprint series in 2003 and is asking potential sponsors for $12,500 to headline his effort.

The auction started December 26, 2002 and runs until Sunday, January 5, 2003 at approximately 1:38 p.m. Eastern Time.

To view the auction, go to http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2902217001.

For more information about Backdraft Motorsports, go to www.backdraftmoto.com.

From a press release issued for Team Hammer by freelance publicist Dorina Clarke:

A race-ready Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki GSX-R750 will be presented to the best-finishing Team Hammer Talent Search Presented By Alpinestars finalist at the 2003 Suzuki Cup Finals.

Two finalists in the Team Hammer Talent Search Presented By Alpinestars will receive full rides in the 2003 Suzuki Cup Finals, including the use of a Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki racebike, free tires, a mechanic, entry fees and a complete set of Alpinestars leathers, boots and gloves in team colors. The best-finishing finalist will take home a race-prepped GSX-R750, and one of the two finalists will be considered for a 2004 team ride.

More information on the Team Hammer Talent Search Presented by Alpinestars is available in the News section at www.teamhammer.com.

From a press release issued by Regina USA:

Regina 2003 Road Racing Teams and Riders for the USA

Cambridge, MD – Regina USA is pleased to confirm the following sponsored racers for 2003.

In the final AMA championship of its type, Regina is pleased to announce the signing of Chuck Sorensen for the 2003 season in AMA 250 GP racing. Chuck will be defending his 2002 250 GP title again with Team Stargel Aprilia and Regina chains.

For the AMA Supersport and Formula Xtreme series Regina USA has signed with the No Limit Motorsports team for the 2003 season. No Limit Motorsports riders Doug Chandler and Jason Curtis have teamed with notable tuner Gary Medley to take on the field with Honda 600 RR and CBR954 RR motorcycles.

In AMA Superbike, Regina continues its support of Ducati Austin Racing. In 2003 Ducati Austin Racing has one of the best riders on the track in Anthony Gobert. With the impressive results from the recent Daytona tire tests and the talent at Ducati Austin Racing, Anthony is sure to be a contender for the Superbike title this season.

Regina USA is elated to have such talented and well-known racers chose Regina chains to support their racing efforts for 2003. For more information on Regina motorcycle chains see
http://www.regina.it/moto/index.html on the web.

From a press release issued by Brandware PR, on behalf of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum:

If you’re planning on attending Daytona Bike Week 2003 this coming March, you’ll want to add the evening of Tuesday, March 4 to your agenda of “can’t miss” activities.

The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in cooperation with Harley-Davidson Motor Company, will host “An Evening of Heroes,” an exclusive industry and media charity preview of the Museum’s all-new exhibit, “Heroes of Harley-Davidson, presented by Progressive Insurance.” Scheduled for a May 2, 2003 grand opening, this historic exhibit will chronicle a century of Harley-Davidson people, personalities and products that transformed the Motor Company from an experiment in a backyard shed into today phenomenal success story.

“An Evening of Heroes” takes place Tuesday, March 4 at 7:00 pm, in the Ocean View Room and Terrace at the Adam’s Mark Hotel. The evening includes a Silent Auction of one-of-a-kind memorabilia, including several unique Harley-Davidson donated items. All Auction proceeds will benefit Harley-Davidson’s charity of choice, the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Both present-day and past Harley-Davidson heroes will be in attendance to autograph many of the auction items.

You won’t want to miss this special opportunity to join your industry peers for a celebration of America’s premier motorcycling Museum and a century of Harley-Davidson heroes and heritage. For advance information, including ticket availability and prices, contact BrandwarePR via return e-mail, or by calling Philip Mauney at 770.938.2811.

The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum

www.motorcyclemuseum.org

Copyright 2002-2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

The Art of the Motorcycle exhibit at the Guggenheim Museum, located within the Venetian hotel and casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, will close Sunday, January 5, 2003.

Originally presented at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City, the Art of the Motorcycle exhibit was moved to the Guggenheim at the Venetian and opened October 7, 2001. Due to popular demand and support from BMW Motorcycles, the exhibit was extended from its original closing date of June 2002 until January 2003, according to Guggenheim Communications Manager Kimiko Haight.

The Art of the Motorcycle exhibit will remain open to the public from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. through January 5.

As for the over 120 motorcycles in the exhibit, Haight says they will be returned to their owners.

The Guggenheim Hermitage Museum, also located in the Venetian, will remain open with the exhibit Art Through the Ages: Masterpieces of Painting from Titian to Picasso.

According to Haight, over 560,000 patrons have visited the Guggenheim in Las Vegas.

For more information, call the Guggenheim Museum in Las Vegas at (702) 414-2440 or go to www.guggenheimlasvegas.org.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

CCS Florida Region racer John Porlier is engaged to Heidi Russell.

CCS Southeast Region F40 Champion Rick Croly is engaged to Shawn Drennen.

CCS Southwest and Pacific Region racer Paul Langford is engaged to Christy Stone.

CCS Southwest and Pacific Region racer Dusty Schaller is engaged to Wendy Sciortino.

As this press release issued by racer Clinton Whitehouse demonstrates, the FIM/DORNA decision to abandon the 500cc format in favor of MotoGP has apparently left the door wide open for a new 500cc World Championship, based at Willow Springs International Raceway in Rosamond, California:

500cc World Championship Series to be Held at WSMC

In an exciting new development, GS Racing Organization Championship Series (GS-ROCS) Czar and spokesman Clinton Whitehouse today announced a new World Championship Series for Suzuki GS500 motorcycles. Starting January 19th 2003, the 2003 GS500 World Championship will be held the third Sunday of each month, through December 2003. It will run concurrently with the WSMC Lightweight Twins class.

Whitehouse said, “The GS-ROCS is happy to offer U.S. fans this opportunity to view a World Class event in person. Originally we were going to structure the class to allow prototypes with unlimited displacement and modifications, but decided that anyone with a budget of a few million dollars could build a winning bike under those conditions. In order to increase the challenge and technical savvy required to excel, it was decided to use the WSMC Lightweight Twins rules. This strikes a perfect balance of freedom to innovate, and constraints, to increase the challenge. Anyone can design a modern, 5-cylinder 4-valve engine that is fast, but how many can coax massive horsepower from a 25-year-old air-cooled Twin?”

Whitehouse continued, “On top of the honor and glory of competing in a prestigious series, lucrative cash prizes of $5.00 for first place, $3.00 for second and $2.00 for third will be awarded. In addition, attractive trophies will be given. Points toward the World Championship will be awarded at the same rate as in other WSMC classes. Points will accumulate all year to culminate in December with the awarding of the new World Championship.”

In order to avoid conflict of interest, if Whitehouse races a GS500 he will not be eligible for prizes or points in the GS-ROCS. Anyone else who wants to compete need only be eligible to run WSMC LW Twins and register themselves and their bike with GS-ROCS. There will be no entry fee beyond the normal WSMC entry fee to compete in GS-ROCS, as it is the racers who make this glorious production possible.

According to the Whitehouse, “I hope the ease of entering doesn’t make people take the series lightly. These are serious racing machines and the competition will be cut-throat, top-notch, and all of that. After all, a World Championship is at stake.”

The GS-ROCS can be contacted c/o [email protected]